Changing your device’s language back to English is usually a simple process that can be done in just a few steps. The exact steps may vary slightly depending on the type of device you are using, but the general process is the same across phones, tablets, and computers.
Check Your Device’s Language Settings
The first step is to open your device’s language or region settings. On most phones and tablets this can be found in the Settings app, while on computers it is typically found in the System Preferences or Control Panel.
Once in settings, look for the “Language” or “Region” section. This is where you can view and manage the languages enabled on your device. There may be a list of languages that are checked or selected. Make sure “English” is checked/selected. If English is already enabled, you just need to move it to the top of the list to make it the primary language.
Change the Display Language
If English is not already enabled or is not set as the main display language, tap on English to select it. This will enable English as one of the available language options. You may need to drag it to the top of the language list to set it as the default.
On some devices, there is a separate setting specifically for display language or text language. Make sure this is set to English.
Restart Your Device
Once you have enabled English and set it as the primary language, you need to restart your device for the change to fully take effect. On phones and tablets, power the device off completely and then power it back on. On computers, reboot the system.
Give the device a minute or two after rebooting for the English language to load in. All system menus, settings, and apps should now display in English. Apps and websites opened should also adjust their text to English.
Check That Everything Switched to English
Open some commonly used apps and menus on your device and verify that all text is now in English. Here are some places to check:
- System menus like Settings or Control Panel
- Pre-installed apps like Phone, Contacts, Clock
- Texting or messaging apps
- Third-party apps like social media, games, etc.
- Websites opened in a browser app
Everything displayed should now be in English. If you still see text in the previous language, you may need to fully remove that language in Settings. Any apps or websites that did not switch over should adjust within a few minutes.
Remove the Previous Language (Optional)
If your device still has remnants of the previous language, you can try completely removing it:
- Go back into Language settings
- Find the previous language and tap on it
- Select “Remove” or “Delete” to fully delete it
This will ensure there are no leftovers from the old language. You may need to restart your device again after deleting it.
Add System Languages If Needed
If you only want English enabled, you are all set. However, you can add additional languages if desired. This allows you to quickly switch between languages for apps, websites, etc.
To add another language:
- Go back to Language settings
- Tap “Add Language” or the plus icon
- Select the language you want to add
Make sure to drag the additional languages below English in the list so that English remains as the primary display language.
Adding other languages can be useful for quickly switching keyboards or translating text. Just remember to keep English at the top of the list.
Troubleshooting Tips
If changing the language back to English did not work, here are some troubleshooting tips:
- Make sure you fully restarted your device after changing the language.
- Check that English is enabled/selected and at the top of the language list.
- Fully remove other languages from the list if English is still not primary.
- On computers, check the input method/keyboard layout setting in addition to display language.
- Update your device’s software in case of a bug with languages.
- Try changing the language on just one app if only some are not switched to English.
- As a last resort, reset your device to factory default settings.
Prevent Unwanted Language Changes
To prevent your device from accidentally changing languages again:
- Lock or password protect your language settings.
- Disable the ability to access language settings from the lock screen.
- Turn off location services if your device auto-changes based on location.
- Restrict settings changes in parental control or device management settings.
Enabling these types of restrictions can help prevent unintended language changes by apps, other users, or when travelling internationally.
Conclusion
Changing your device back to English is a straightforward process – just enable English as your primary language in Settings, restart your device, and verify that everything has switched to English. Removing other languages can help if English does not take effect right away. With some simple troubleshooting, you should be able to get your device displaying your preferred language in no time.